Raptor over the Middle East
Posted on 01/14/2010 11:24:43 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
The U.S. Air Force has demonstrated the capabilities of its new F-22 in operations in the Middle East. The Air Force concluded its first deployment of the F-22A Raptors in the Middle East. Officials said the F-22s were demonstrated in a combat air exercise in the United Arab Emirates that took place in early December 2009.
"This was historic because it's a new weapon system, and although we had shown we can deploy to other places, we hadn't proven we could operate here," Maj. Daniel Bunts, an F-22 pilot, said. The UAE exercise included six Raptors from the U.S. Air Force's 27th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron. Britain, France, Jordan, Pakistan and the UAE also participated in the air maneuvers.
"We didn't know how the jet was going to perform or react, given the temperature differences as well as the dust, sand and wind," Lt. Col. Lance Pilch, commander of the 27th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, said. "But we were able to fly more sorties than we scheduled for, so the F-22 actually exceeded expectations."
Officials said the F-22s didn't participate directly in the exercise. They said the aircraft flew alongside crews from the participating nations in training sorties.
In November 2009, the air force presented the F-22 to the Dubai Airshow and briefed GCC militaries. So far, the United States has not approved the F-22 for export, and the administration of President Barack Obama has ordered a halt in production.
"Now that we've done some training together, they have a better understanding of what we can do with this jet, so if we ever need to partner together, they know what they can expect from us as their wingmen," Bunts said. "We've made great friends out here.
(Excerpt) Read more at geostrategy-direct.com ...
BTTT
Is the Air Force trying to show its Marxist masters in the White House that the plane is better than any other in the world and canceling it was a bonehead move?
Which brings to mind this thought:
Receiving equipment from a low bidder is niggling; how’bout from a company that doesn't need to make a profit??
Yep - gotta pay for the massive jump in entitlements somehow. National Security be damned....
you write that like obama wants to improve this country?
There is no indication he is trying to improve this country.
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